Closing device for rubber tubing



E. OCONNOR.

CLOSING DEVICE FOR RUBBER TUBING.-

APPLICATION FILED MAY 1, 1919.

1,361,770. I v Patefited Dec. 7,1920,

WITNESSES INVENTOR Edam/z] 0'6017/20 Z0 M y) W M A TTOHNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD OCONNOR, OF HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

CLOSING nnvron non RUBBER TUBING.

Specification of Letters Patent. P t t 7, 1920 Application fi1ed May 1, 1919. Serial No. 294,053.

T 0 allwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD OCoNNoR, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and Improved Closing Device for Rubber Tubing, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved closing device for rubber tubing, such as is used-for douche bags,

fountain syringes and like devices, and arranged to permit the user to conveniently place the closing device in position on the rubber tubing and to insure effective closing and opening thereof. Another object is to permit the user to readily manipulate .the closing device when in position on the the closing device as applied and with the parts in closed position, a portion of the rubber tubing being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation ofthe same; and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the blank for forming the closing device.

The closing device is made of a single piece 10 of steel or other resilient material, and this piece is bent to provide a bent portion 11 and two side members 12 and 13, of which the side member 12 is the handle member and the side member 13 is the clamping member. The handle member 12 terminates at its free end in a handle 14. slightly curved upward, as plainly shown in the drawings, and the bend 11 and the handle 14 are provided with registering circular openings 15 and 16 for the passage of the tubing 17 on which the closing de vice is to be used. It will be noticed that by this arrangement the tubing 17 extends between the two side members 12 and 13.

The free end of the clamping member 13 is provided with a lug 20 adapted to pass intothe opening 16 and to abut against the straight front wall 21 of a reduced extension thereof to hold the clamping member 13 locked when in clamping position, as shown n Figs. 1 and 2. The clamping member 13 is provided adjacent the lug 20 with a clamping lug 25 struck up at a spaced distance from the free end and extending when bent at right angles toward the handle member 12 to flatten the tubing 17 against the free end ofthe handle member 12, as plainly shown in Fig. 1. The terminal of the lug 25 is provided with a return bent portion 26 to prevent injury to the tubing when flattening and closing the same against the handle member 12. It is understood that this flattening and closing of the tubing 17 takes place adjacent the rear wall 27 of the opening 16 and which rear wall 27 is spaced from the upper end of the handle member 12. The handle member 12 is provided near its free end with a short struckup lug 28 extending toward the clamping member 13 and out of alinement with the clamping lug 25. By the arrangement described the portion of the tubing 17 between the wall 27 and the lug 28 is slightly bent in an outward direction on swinging the clamping member 13 into closed position thus insuring an effective flattening and closing of the tubing, as will be readily understood by reference to Fig. 1. By reference to 'Figs. 1 and 2, it will be noticed that the handle 14 is slightly curved upward thus providing a cam for the lug 20, and hence when the clamping member 13 is pressed toward the handle member 12, the handle 14: is swung upward until the lug 20 snaps into the opening 16 at which time the handle 14 returns to normal position. Now on releasing the clamping member 13 the lug 20 moves into contact with the wall 21 of the opening 16 thus locking the clamping member 13 in position.

It is understood that the clamping member 13 is in open position with the lug 25 out of engagement with the tubing 17 thus allowing free flow of the water or. other liquid through the tubing. WVhen it is de sired to close the tubing it is only necessary for the operator to take hold of the handle member 12 and the clamping member 13 with the forefinger and the thumb and then press the clamping member 13 toward the handle member 12 thereby causing the lug 25 to flatten the tubing against the upper end of the handle member 12 thereby closing the tubing. During this movement of the clamping member 13 its lug snaps into the opening 16 to lock the clamping member 13 when in clamping position as above explained. It is understood that when the clamping member 13 is in clamping position and locked therein the operator removes his fingers from the closing device. When it is desired to open the tubing 17 it is only necessary for the operator to swing the handle 14 upward to release the lug 20 and thereby allow the clamping member 13 to return to its normal outward position, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, thus moving the lug 25 out of engagement with thetubing 17.

The closing device is held in position on the tubing owin t the latter fitting snug-1y against the Wa-l s of the openings 15 and 16 with the exception of the wall portion 21, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3..

Having thus described, my invention, I claim as. new and desire to secure by Letters Patent l. A closing. device for tubing, made of a piece of fiat resilient material bent into an approximately U-shape thereby providing a bent portion and side members, of which one is the handle, member and the other the clamping member, the handle member being rovided at its free end with an. angular han l e extending over the free end of the clamping member, the latter being provided adjacent its free end with a clamping lug extending toward the said handle member to flatten the tubing against the handle memher, the. said bent portion and the saidhandle having openings. for the passage of the tubing, the free end of the said clamping member being adapted to engage the forward wall of the tubing opening in the handle to lock the clamping member in clamping position, the said handle member being provided near its free end with a lug extending toward the clamping member and being staggered relative to the said clamping lug.

2-. A- closing device for tubing consisting of a single flat piece of resilient material bent into an approximately U-shape there by providing a bent portion and side members, of which one is the handle member and the other is the clamping member, the handle member being provided at its free end with an angular handle extending toward the clamping member substantially at right angles and extending over the free end of the clamping member and beyond the same, said handle being curved away from the end of the clamping member, the latter being provided adjacent to its free end with an enlarged portion having a clamping lug struck therefrom to extend in the direction of the bent portion and turned inwardly at right angles toward the handlemember, with its free end rebent to form a tube engaging portion, said bent portion and said handle member having openings for the passage ofthe tubing and the opening of the. handle being provided with a reduced extension in the direction of the free end of the handle and provided with a straightfront wall for engagement bythe free end: of the clamping member to lock the latter in clamping position, the opposite wallof said openingterminating at a spaced distance from the handle member to provide a shoulderopposing the lug on one side anda lug struck from the handle member at the other side of the lug first named whereby the tubing is bent and clamped.

betweenv the shoulder and second named lug.

EDWARD OCONNOR. 

